2010-present Patrick K Gamble

Patrick K. Gamble became the University of Alaska's 13th president on June 1, 2010.

Prior to joining the university, he served as president and chief executive officer of the Alaska Railroad Corp. since 2001. Under Gamble’s tenure at the railroad, assets tripled to over $860 million and net earnings more than doubled, with annual revenue increasing by 70 percent.

Before leading the railroad, Gamble served a distinguished career in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a four-star general. As Commander, Pacific Air Forces, Gamble was responsible for the planning, programming, budgeting and operations of 14 installations, 45,000 employees and 400 aircraft with an annual operating budget of $1.4 billion.

Prior to that assignment, Gamble was director of Air Force Air and Space Operations as chief operating officer, responsible for current operations, training, exercises, security programs, command and control systems and analysis.

From 1996 to 1998, he served as commander of the Air Force’s Alaskan Command. He simultaneously directed three complex military functional staffs and organizations, with 10,000 employees. Previous military assignments included director of NATO operations and logistics, where he was responsible for successfully transitioning Bosnian peacekeeping by the United Nations into NATAO peace enforcement by an international military coalition. He also served as commandant of the U.S. Air Force Academy, directing all training, policy development, dormitory, food service, military classroom education and logistics support for 4,000 students.

Gamble twice received both the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, as well as other military honors.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics from Texas A & M University and a Master of Business Administration from Auburn University in Alabama. He and his wife Ailese have been married over 40 years, have a grown son and are expecting their first grandchild.